A valid question to ask during the COVID-19 global pandemic is; “God, are you with us?” It can feel like we are alone. We can by anxious, fearful, tired of the unknown, and emotionally spent. We long for comfort, peace, and belonging. With the Bible as our support, we can say with all of our hearts that God is with us, for us, and in us right now. And that will not change throughout this crisis.

A valid question to ask during the COVID-19 global pandemic is; “God, are you with us?” It can feel like we are alone. We can by anxious, fearful, tired of the unknown, and emotionally spent. We long for comfort, peace, and belonging. With the Bible as our support, we can say with all of our hearts that God is with us, for us, and in us right now. And that will not change throughout this crisis.

The COVID-19 coronavirus has rocked our world. Each of our personal patterns has changed in the last week. Our daily lives simply look radically different. Work. School. Home. Social. Church. Everything has changed. How we respond as a church is dependent on each of us as individuals. Each one of us makes up the church, so each one of us is responsible for how we connect as a church while we cannot physically meet together. Here are some crucial ways we must band together and act:

The coronavirus is dominating the headlines, TV & radio, and much of our everyday conversation. It is affecting our daily lives more and more with event cancellations, school closings, and shortages of basic goods. How are we to think and respond as Christians? I will answer that question with a few suggestions coming from a biblical, theological viewpoint.

Running out of gas is one of the more unsettling things that can happen. Of course, running out of gas in your car can leave you on the side of the road and stranded. It is dangerous, debilitating, and even reckless. Another way I have “run out of gas” is when I ran the LA marathon. Lori and my Dad (and Brett as an infant!) were cheering me on at about mile 14. It was rainy, my knees hurt, and I was flat out of gas. I wanted to stop. If not for the encouragement I received, I would have been finished. We can run out of gas spiritually as well…

What about waiting on God to act in your life?

When I have to wait I often become impatient. And if I’m really honest with myself, I become very unproductive. I’m impressed with people who can multi-task and get things done while waiting. The businessperson who is typing away on their laptop waiting for the plane. The parent who is planning their next day while waiting for carpool pick-up. The student who is reading in line for their coffee. I think of these activities as “active waiting.”

What about waiting on God to act in your life?

I thrive when I’m given a task with clear instructions and proper motivation. I thrive even more when I’m convinced what I’m doing is right, good, and profitable for people. On the flip side, when I’m asked to do something that I’m not altogether sure how to do it and I can’t see the point in doing it, I’m less likely to give it my all. Jesus knew the disciples needed clear instruction, proper motivation, and the tools to get the job done in the beginning of Acts.

Usually when we do things that take time and effort there is a reason. Spending years in college gives us a degree that opens doors for our future. Running a marathon is an accomplishment that is worth the work and training. Remodeling a house gives us a useful and beautiful place to live. Reading a long novel brings joy and satisfies curiosity of how the story ends. This Sunday at The Rock we are beginning a new sermon series in the book of Acts. The series will take a year of study, effort, and application. Is it worth it? Why would we invest in such an undertaking?

When I get home from a trip I love to tell stories. Reminiscing about places I saw, people I met, food I ate, and even things that went wrong remind me of highlights of my journey. We do this all the time in life with our loved ones and friends. Then we start to plan our next adventure! We do this in the church as well. We look back at what God has done and we look forward to our next adventure with God.

Death is the harshest reality.

We have been grieving this week over the deaths of Kobe Bryant and every person that died in the tragic helicopter crash. The news was shocking. The aftermath was confusing. The days following filled with grief were unsettling. Why is death so hard and disturbing?

The title “Endings and Beginnings” is a word play signifying the end of our “Genesis: Beginnings” sermon series. It also represents the end of one sermon series and the beginning of another. Everyone at The Rock can participate in both in the following ways:

I love a good plan. Actually, I love any plan I make. I add the clarification because once I make a plan in my mind I have a hard time changing and deviating from my original plan. My plan may be threatened by another person’s opinion. Or the timing of my plan does not work. Or the cost turns out to be prohibitive. The most likely reason my plan needs to change is that it simply was not a good plan from the beginning. I get frustrated with changed plans and tend to need a little time to regroup. Why is this?

It’s a Small World. Did you think of the classic Disneyland ride? Or maybe you thought of a situation when you encountered the same people, events, or situations in an unexpected place? How about discovering someone knows a person you also know? All of these make sense. The Bible teaches the world of Noah and his family after the flood was literally “a small world.” It was up to eight people, Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives, to populate the entire earth. The only possible way this could happen is by God’s grace, wisdom, and power.

Examining one’s life using the “Past, Present, and Yet to Come” formula is a hallmark of the Christmas season thanks to Charles Dickens. One of the reasons that “A Christmas Carol” is so long-lasting and beloved is because it rings true in our lives. We can relate to examining our lives in this way and I believe we can grow because of it!

One of the great themes of the Christmas season is joy. We sing; “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” We see the word joy in decorations, lights, and Christmas cards. And above all we feel joy deep in our souls knowing our Savior has come.

“I’m with you.” There might be no more comforting words in times of trial, suffering, illness, or loneliness. Someone’s presence in our lives is priceless. This is the Christmas message of God to us - “I’m with you.” The promise of God in Isaiah many years prior has come true in Jesus. This kept promise brings peace, joy, hope, comfort, salvation, and eternal life! Christmas is closely connected to the gospel - In fact Christmas IS the good news of Jesus.

What amazes you? I mean what makes you stand in awe and wonder. In some respects we are jaded by movie special effects and technology that we take for granted. But there are things in our world today that genuinely awe us. For some it is God’s creation - both the animal kingdom and the earth’s beauty. For others it is music, sports, or art. Some are awed by design or architecture. Others are awed by the taste of a gourmet meal. Whatever it is for you, there are things in this world that awe us. God has created all of us with the ability and propensity to be awed.

Happy Thanksgiving! I pray you would have a day of giving thanks to God while enjoying peaceful rest.

When we gather at The Rock this Sunday it will be the first Sunday of Advent! I want to dedicate this email to simply listing the events/services this December:

I can’t imagine the feeling of starting life over after losing a home to fire or flood. Even more so if a loved one is lost in the tragedy. People have experienced this recently in our area. Some respond with a matter of fact attitude of “life goes on.” Others struggle to cope. But I’m deeply inspired when traumatic events happen in people’s lives and they respond with faith and trust in God. Sadness and loss, yes. But clearly seeing God’s blessings and promises as still true in their lives.

There are things in life that are recommendations for our good - eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, etc. Then there are things in life that are commanded by law - pay your taxes, obey traffic laws, don’t murder anyone, etc. We tend to easily recognize the difference and act accordingly. But too often we think commands in the Bible are only recommendations. They maybe are for our good, but are optional. One of these is the command to give thanks.